Narcotics dept eyes war against drugs in 2019

Given the massive sale, consumption and misuse of drugs, even by those in charge of containing it, in 2018, the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) plans to wage an all-out war on this menace. The DNC will wage the war on three fronts—international, local and misappropriation of drugs by suspected law enforcers.

DNC sources said the highest priority this year will be given to preventing the sale of yaba. Doing so will cut down on drug consumption in the country likely by 90 per cent, they added. Sometimes it happens that law enforcers cannot arrest persons involved in the drug trade because they are supposed to influential businessmen. In such cases, the DNC will examine the financial statements of such persons to trace their sources of income. Recently, the DNC came up with the commitment to “erase the drug business within 2019”.

“To prevent the drug business across the country, we will work with the commitment under the new government,” DNC director general Jamal Uddin Bhuiyan told The Independent, adding that the department has held several meetings with home minister Asaduzzaman Khan in this regard.

“We have declared jihad against the drug business. We have already directed all DNC officials to take all necessary measures against drug immediately,” he said. According to DNC sources, a Bangladesh Bank (BB) cell will monitor whether there is a link between people involved in the narcotics business and money launderers.

They further informed that the DNC continuously updated the list of drug dealers. The dealers are put in three categories—top, middle and others.

“If someone is held with drugs, his/her name is taken out from the list. So the list is always changing,” a source said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a “war on drugs” in May 2018 after a reported rise in the sale and use of methamphetamine.

Following the announcement, the DNC prepared a list of 37 top drug kingpins. About 10-12 of them were arrested or killed in encounters by law enforcers.

Law enforcement agencies had also launched a nationwide anti-drug drive after the Prime Minister's directive. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) launched its drive on May 4 and the police on May 18.

Several alleged criminals were killed during these drives. Of them, at least 261 were alleged drug dealers and they were killed in so-called shootouts with law enforcers.

On May 26, around 1,000 RAB personnel from different battalions with dog squads and a bomb disposal unit cordoned off the Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur, where drug dealers of different ages openly peddle small packets of the pink yaba tablets.

On the same day, around 1,000 policemen with a dog squad gathered on the T&T ground just beside Korail slum in Mohakhali as part of an anti-narcotics drive.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) conducts such drives daily.

“The process is ongoing,” RAB’s legal and media wing director Mufti Mahmud Khan told the Independent.

“We have mounted special vigil against drugs, militants and illegal arms. We are busy with national election security matters and that will continue till January 2. After that, we will again start our regular activities against drugs,” he added.

On October 27, Parliament had passed the Narcotics Control Bill 2018, keeping the provision for death sentence or life imprisonment for anyone found carrying more than 200 grams of yaba or more than 25 grams of heroin or cocaine.

According to the DNC, about 50 methamphetamine pills weigh five grams, meaning roughly 2,000 pills would result in the highest punishment under the bill.

The new law came into effect from December, 27.

Yaba has now become the most widely used narcotics in the country; it is sold in the form of tablets with blends of methamphetamine and caffeine. Sometimes, heroin is also mixed. In most cases, it is taken directly as a pill, but sometimes its users inhale the smoke after lighting them on metal foils.

Geographically, Bangladesh is located at the crossroads of the global drug trade. Curbing the spread of yaba has proved to be difficult because of its size and consequent portability.

Yaba is mostly smuggled in from Myanmar, especially via Teknaf. Authorities estimate the supply surged to 300 million pills in 2017, mostly with the influx of Rohingya refugees and the fishermen who ferried them across the border.

Narcotics dept eyes war against drugs in 2019

Given the massive sale, consumption and misuse of drugs, even by those in charge of containing it, in 2018, the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) plans to wage an all-out war on this menace. The DNC will wage the war on three frontsinternational, local and misappropriation of drugs by suspected law enforcers. DNC sources said the highest priority this year will be given to preventing the sale of yaba. Doing so will cut down on drug consumption in the country likely by 90 per cent, they added. Sometimes it happens that law enforcers cannot arrest persons involved in the drug trade because they are supposed to influential businessmen. In such cases, the DNC will examine the financial statements of such persons to trace their sources of income. Recently, the DNC came up with the commitment to erase the drug business within 2019. To prevent the drug business across the country, we will work with the commitment under the new government, DNC director general Jamal Uddin Bhuiyan told The Independent, adding that the department has held several meetings with home minister Asaduzzaman Khan in this regard. We have declared jihad against the drug business. We have already directed all DNC officials to take all necessary measures against drug immediately, he said. According to DNC sources, a Bangladesh Bank (BB) cell will monitor whether there is a link between people involved in the narcotics business and money launderers. They further informed that the DNC continuously updated the list of drug dealers. The dealers are put in three categoriestop, middle and others. If someone is held with drugs, his/her name is taken out from the list. So the list is always changing, a source said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a war on drugs in May 2018 after a reported rise in the sale and use of methamphetamine. Following the announcement, the DNC prepared a list of 37 top drug kingpins. About 10-12 of them were arrested or killed in encounters by law enforcers. Law enforcement agencies had also launched a nationwide anti-drug drive after the Prime Ministers directive. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) launched its drive on May 4 and the police on May 18. Several alleged criminals were killed during these drives. Of them, at least 261 were alleged drug dealers and they were killed in so-called shootouts with law enforcers. On May 26, around 1,000 RAB personnel from different battalions with dog squads and a bomb disposal unit cordoned off the Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur, where drug dealers of different ages openly peddle small packets of the pink yaba tablets. On the same day, around 1,000 policemen with a dog squad gathered on the TT ground just beside Korail slum in Mohakhali as part of an anti-narcotics drive. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) conducts such drives daily. The process is ongoing, RABs legal and media wing director Mufti Mahmud Khan told the Independent. We have mounted special vigil against drugs, militants and illegal arms. We are busy with national election security matters and that will continue till January 2. After that, we will again start our regular activities against drugs, he added. On October 27, Parliament had passed the Narcotics Control Bill 2018, keeping the provision for death sentence or life imprisonment for anyone found carrying more than 200 grams of yaba or more than 25 grams of heroin or cocaine. According to the DNC, about 50 methamphetamine pills weigh five grams, meaning roughly 2,000 pills would result in the highest punishment under the bill. The new law came into effect from December, 27. Yaba has now become the most widely used narcotics in the country; it is sold in the form of tablets with blends of methamphetamine and caffeine. Sometimes, heroin is also mixed. In most cases, it is taken directly as a pill, but sometimes its users inhale the smoke after lighting them on metal foils. Geographically, Bangladesh is located at the crossroads of the global drug trade. Curbing the spread of yaba has proved to be difficult because of its size and consequent portability. Yaba is mostly smuggled in from Myanmar, especially via Teknaf. Authorities estimate the supply surged to 300 million pills in 2017, mostly with the influx of Rohingya refugees and the fishermen who ferried them across the border.